The Hong Kong Young Writers Awards (HKYWA) is an annual competition and fantastic opportunity for aspiring writers to showcase their talents and creativity. Our entry categories are in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and cover art. The competition’s main aim is to foster excellence in creativity by providing students with the opportunity to develop their expressive talents and expand their horizons. There were over 1,000 entries coming in from approximately 200 participating schools across Hong Kong, Macau and China in 2019. Our students, Chou Cheuk Yan, Ambrose and Cheung Ching Po participated the competition and Ambrose is the Winner of Non-Fiction Group 3. The topic is New Tales of the Ming Treasure Voyages. Their entries have been published in the anthology of the competition. The list of the winners of Hong Kong Young Writers Awards 2019: https://www.hkywa.com/http-www-hkywa-com-wp-content-uploads-2018-03-hkywa-winners-2018-jpg/

Our school public speaking team performed excellently and won the Hong Kong Speech Festival Public Speaking Team Competition (Class E201) with a total of 87 marks. During the previous couple of years, we have entered F6 students into the competition. The reason for this is that it may serve as a positive distraction from the intense focus of the coming DSE exams, and at the same time help them improve their public speaking skills. This year, students from 6 Matthew and 6 Mark entered as a three-member group. The students were: 6 Matthew Angel Fan, 6 Mark Hugo Lee and Minnie Ma. There was a choice of two topics that they could present – 1) Cyberbullying 2) Conversation Tips. Our students chose the latter as it appeared to be more challenging. Congratulations to our students.

The 32nd Athletic Meet was held on 9 and 10 January at Ma On Shan Sports Ground. Students took part in various track and field events, especially in the relay in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrow. With a total of 9 individual event records broken, our students are not only studying hard, but also working hard in sports. The closing ceremony had the privilege to have the officiating Guest of Honour, Hong Kong record holder of women shot put and discus throw and alumna of our school, Ms. To Yuen Kwan. She encouraged students to participate more sport activities and working hard in the future.

Our F.5 and F.6 students performed well in the Hong Kong Biology Literacy Award 2019. Sung Fung Man from 6 Matthew and Pang Leong Chak from 6 Mark won the First Class Honours. Li Chun Lok and Wong Ka Chun from 6 Mark won the Second Class Honours. Fan Lok Sum from 6 Matthew, Chao Ying Chin from 6Mark and Shum Chi To from 5 Matthew won the Third Class Honours in the competition. Besides, Li Chun Lok from 6 Mark won the Bronze Award in International Biology Olympiad - Hong Kong Contest 2019. Congratulations to our students.

The 2020-2021 Secondary 1 Admission Talk cum Exhibition was held on the 2 November 2019 (Saturday). About 2000 parents and their children have visited our school. Children’s personal growth and career paths are parents’ top concerns. It is therefore crucial for us to choose the most suitable secondary school for our children. In order to help guests, parents and primary students to have a clearer understanding of our school’s believe and moral values, we have organized a wide range of activities. Student helpers from various subjects have set up booths and exhibition. Visitors can directly communicate with our students to have a more thorough perception of their school life. As an EMI (English as Media of Instruction) school, our school has always emphasized on language learning. Parents were reminded to carefully consider the teaching language before choosing a secondary school for their children. Moreover, our professional teachers put a lot of effort on teaching to make sure students receive high quality of education. To cater for student’s individual development, other than spending adequate amount of time on lesson preparation, our teachers also coordinate different extra-curricular activities to help students thrive. We believed parents and guests already have a deeper and thorough understanding of our school. We sincerely hope that this could be a reference for parents when choosing the most suitable secondary school for their children.

Our school has become the partner school of Hong Kong Soil Biodiversity of Millipedes Research Project, hosted by The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Selected Form 5 and Form 3 Biology students participated in the opening ceremony and the workshop on 22 October. They performed a series of scientific investigations in grasslands near the school campus. The research project aims to carry out the investigation of the biodiversity of millipedes and other soil macrofauna in Hong Kong together with secondary school students, NGO, and university academics. Our students will be participating in the collection and identification of millipedes collected around all of the partner schools throughout a year. Collection sites will be recorded, and specimens will be photographed. DNA will also be extracted, and COI markers will be amplified to ensure the species identity by the university. Findings will be summarised and published as a Hong Kong citizen-science output for the first time. For more details, please visit Website: http://biodiversity.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/millipedes/ Instagram: ihmc millipedes

The 15th Sha Tin District Outstanding Student Award was organised by the Shatin Youths Association. It recognizes and commends the outstanding achievers who are the role models of all students in the district. Our Students, CHAN Yan Yi of 6 Matthew as well as MA Yee Mei of 6 Mark have achieved the award this year. Due to her outstanding performance, CHAN Yan Yi has also been recommended by the Shatin Youths Association to participate in the Outstanding Student Election of New Territories and awarded the Outstanding Student of the New Territories.

Orientation for F.1 Parents and Students was held in the School Hall on 24th August, 2019. The Supervisor, Sister Lucy Mary CHUNG, the Principal, Ms. MOK Kit Yue and the Vice Principals, Mr. CHAN Tak Wang and Mr. WONG Kit and other teachers conducted the programme by providing the parents of our incoming Form One students with useful information that can help their children flourish and thrive at Immaculate Heart of Mary College.